Act I: The Village Square
The ballet opens in a picturesque village where the young lovers Swanhilda and Franz are engaged. However, Swanhilda notices Franz flirting with a mysterious girl who always sits motionless on a balcony—Coppélia. The girl is actually a life-sized doll created by the eccentric inventor Dr. Coppélius, but Franz is unaware of this and believes she is real.
Swanhilda, suspicious and jealous, decides to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, the village is preparing for a festival to celebrate a new bell for the church, and the mayor announces that couples who marry on the day will receive a dowry. Swanhilda and her friends find a key that Dr. Coppélius accidentally drops and decide to sneak into his workshop to investigate.
Act II: Dr. Coppélius' Workshop
Inside the workshop, Swanhilda and her friends discover that Coppélia is just a beautifully crafted automaton, surrounded by other mechanical dolls. Dr. Coppélius suddenly returns and chases them away, except for Swanhilda, who hides.
At the same time, Franz, still infatuated with Coppélia, climbs up to the balcony and sneaks into the workshop. Dr. Coppélius catches him and, under the pretense of friendship, gives him a drink laced with a sleeping potion. The old man has a wild plan—using magic to transfer Franz’s life force into Coppélia to bring her to life.
However, Swanhilda, disguised as Coppélia, plays along with the illusion. She pretends to awaken, imitating the doll’s jerky movements before gradually “coming to life.” She dances erratically, delighting and then bewildering Dr. Coppélius. Eventually, she reveals the trick, wakes up Franz, and the couple escapes, leaving the old man heartbroken but unharmed.
Act III: The Village Festival and Wedding
Back in the village, the festival for the new bell is in full swing, with lively dances. Swanhilda forgives Franz for his foolishness, and the two are finally married. The mayor bestows the dowry upon them, and a grand celebration ensues.
Dr. Coppélius, initially furious over the trick played on him, is eventually appeased by a monetary gift from the mayor. The ballet ends joyfully with a series of festive dances, including the famous Dance of the Hours, as Swanhilda and Franz begin their married life together.
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